The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Dec. 28, 2020

22 YEARS AGO
DEC. 31, 1998

The varsity cheerleaders from Sparta Academy took first place honors in the 10^th annual Alabama Cheerleaders Coaches and Advisors Association State Cheerleading Championships. The competition was held Dec. 5, 1998 at Etowah High School in Attalla, Ala. Squads from private and public schools all over the state competed with routines consisting of cheers, chants, stunts, jumps and dance. Members of the Class 1A state champion Sparta varsity squad that competed are Sunshine Floyd, co-captain; Gina Harper, captain; Lauren Salter, Amy Jones, Wendy Crabtree, Jessica Bennett and Katie Johnston.

36 YEARS AGO
DEC. 29, 1983

Wilcox Academy swept four games from Sparta Academy in Camden on Dec. 16.
Wilcox won the boys varsity game, 79-69. Russ Brown had 23 points for Sparta. Connery Salter and Al Etheridge 12 each; Britt McNeill, 11; Vince Watts, six; and Danny Reed, five.
Sparta’s girls lost a close one, 31-29. Leah Carrier had 11 points; Jan Coker, eight; Tammy Booker, six; and Raye Ann Gall, four.
Sparta’s Boys B Team lost 40-34. Lynn Ralls had 10 points; Glynn Ralls, eight; Brandon Salter, six; Tim Wilson and Jason West, five each.
The Sparta Girls B Team lost 24-15. Kim Searcy had eight points; Susan Ward, five; and Jeannie Vonderan, three.

47 YEARS AGO

DEC. 28, 1972

Texas Cowgirls play men’s team here Jan. 10: The World Famous Texas Cowgirls Basketball Team will appear at the high school gym in Evergreen on Jan. 10 at 8 p.m.
This appearance will be sponsored by the high school.

The Texas Cowgirls will be commencing their 23rd season of play and have played over 4,000 engagements coast to coast and abroad.

The Texas Cowgirls will play against a men’s team with men’s rules. An entertaining program has been planned. Advance tickets may be obtained from members of the organization for adults, $1.50; and students, $1.

From “The Colyum” by Bob Bozeman: Better get your eyes in shape again, if they have recovered from last weekend. The bowl season is upon us and eyestrain threatens us football nuts.

Of course, to fans around here the strong attractions are the Gator Bowl on Saturday afternoon and the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Auburn’s unbelievable Tigers will do battle against Colorado in the Gator. Coach Shug Jordan’s club lost its starting quarterback as practice started for the bowl game.

57 YEARS AGO

DEC. 27, 1962

Castleberry Wins County Tournament: The Blue Devils of Conecuh County High School at Castleberry firmly established themselves as one of South Alabama’s top cage powers by winning the Conecuh County Invitational Tournament. Castleberry racked up Pineapple, 58-19, in the finals Thursday night.

Coach Pope’s host team is unbeaten this year. The Blue Devils lost only one player off their 1961-62 squad and have had little trouble downing all foes this year.

Castleberry placed three players on the all tournament team chosen at the conclusion of the meet. Janes, Foster and Kast were named. Others chosen were Robinson of Repton, Raines of Beatrice, Barlow and Sasser of T.R. Miller and Cochran and Stafford of Pineapple.

Janes tossed in 18 and Kast 17 to pace the Blue Devils in the championship tilt. Others scoring were Foster nine, Findley five, Sims four, Shipp three and Godwin two. Cochran led Pineapple with five points.

The tournament concluded play for the Blue Devils until the regular schedule is resumed in January.

 

Frisco City Wins Holiday Tourney: Frisco City captured the Evergreen Holiday Invitational Tournament Thursday night by whipping J.U. Blacksher of Uriah, 65-53. Greenville took the consolation game by a 64-29 score from Evergreen.

Greenville handily won the battle of the boards and Evergreen shot only 13.2 percent from the floor in the second half as the Tigers coasted to victory led by 19 and 16-point performances by Paul Burch and Joe Terrell, respectively. Joe Sasser with 10 was the only Aggie in double figures.

 

65 YEARS AGO

DEC. 31, 1953

 

The Conecuh County basketball picture should be some clearer after Tuesday night’s game between undefeated Repton and Evergreen.

Coach (Albert) Arnold will depend on the high-scoring antics of Paul Brantley and Ray Blackwell who share the scoring honors. Billy Farrish, Harry Giles and Eddie Kelly have been standouts too.

Coach (Wendell) Hart will pin most of his hopes on the shooting of tall Randy White, who averaged 15 points per game before Christmas, Ward Alexander Jr. and Jimmy Frazier insofar as scoring is concerned. Hosea King, Wayne Douglas, Charles King, Buck Lewis, Tommy Melton and Dale Blair will give them plenty of support.

Wednesday night the Aggies will take on Coach William Andrews’ improving Lyeffion Yellowjacket team. These contests are also scheduled to be played in Memorial Gym with the Bees meeting at seven o’clock in the first game. Friday night the Aggies journey to Pineapple for games with Moore Academy.

 

Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Kendall Jr. and children are visiting relatives in Dallas, Texas and will attend the Cotton Bowl game there Friday.

 

76 YEARS AGO

DEC. 31, 1942

 

Aggies to engage Pleasant Home here tonight: Coach E.L. McInnis’s green and white clad cagers will engage probably their toughest foe of the year today at 7:30 when they play the Pleasant Home basketeers on the local court.

The Pleasant Home cagesters have long been known in this section for their hardwood antics. Among the state’s better teams for the past several years, they wound up in sixth place last year.

The locals are the proud possessors of a four-game winning streak and as yet haven’t met their master. They have defeated Castleberry twice, Repton and Lyeffion once each. In these contests, they have scored 171 points to their opponents’ 52. Johnson has led the locals high-powered offense with 87 points scored. Thames holds runner-up honors with 48.

With transportation a big problem, this may be one of the last home games of the season. Both teams will be after the other’s skins and a close and thrilling scoring battle is forecast. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. Admission, schoolchildren, 15 cents; others, 25 cents.

 

91 YEARS AGO

DEC. 29, 1927

 

Local All Stars Defeat Monroeville: A football ball team composed of Evergreen all stars met and defeated an all star team from Monroeville Tuesday afternoon at Gantt’s Field to the score of 3 to 0.

The game was staged under the auspices of the American Legion and was well-attended by fans from both towns.

The only counter of the game came early when Watson Spence, former Aggie star but now of Auburn, booted the oval over for a field goal. After this, neither team was able to score. As evidenced by the score, the teams were well matched and no ground was gained except by fierce struggling.